Until today, the Public Library was one of only three foundations and institutions that received it in donation, the other two being the City Council of Bologna - the city that hosts the Foundation headquarters – and the Prado Museum of Madrid, Spain.

U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is now the fourth to have this privilege. The Italian American politician, in Italy for an official visit, received it in homage by the President of the Italian Chamber of Deputies Mr. Gianfranco Fini. The two had a private meeting this morning at the Montecitorio Palace in Rome, before a reunion that involved delegations of the Italian Parliament and the American Congress.

 

The book in question is inspired by Michelangelo's sculptures but is itself a true work of art. Its cover is a marble bas-relief stand reproducing the Madonna della Scala (Madonna of Steps) by Michelangelo. The stone comes from the quarries of Polvaccio, the same place where the Renaissance artist chose the marble for his statues. The book also features silk velvet materials and prints, details that make it a piece of rare value.

 

All its details, from the artistic approach to the texts selected, the very techniques and the materials used, are of exceptional quality and meet the very highest standards and levels of perfection. With it, the Marilena Ferrari fine art publishing house – a branch of the eponymous Foundation - launched the Bookwonderful series, with the aim of reproducing in book form the beauty of original art works.

Receiving the homage, Nancy Pelosi confessed: “I am moved by your kindness, and I thank you on behalf of the American people."

 

This, however, was not the only gift she received on that occasion. Shortly afterward, Mr. Fini handed her the birth certificates of her grandfather and great-grandmother. "I am proud to be of Italian descent. There are three qualities that I attribute to the people of this country: courage, determination and optimism. They led Italians to America, giving them the chance to contribute enormously to the development of the United States."

 

Nancy Pelosi’s trip in Italy is consequential to the election of the new US President Barack Obama. The aim is to strengthen the alliance between the two countries during this period of transition. As an Italian American, Nancy Pelosi was the best candidate to achieve this goal.

 

Her visit in Italy is favorably viewed by a majority of Italian political representatives, although the Center-Right government was very close to the Bush Administration. For instance, Hon. Amato Berardi (a member of Prime Minister Berlusconi’s coalition) declared: “U.S. Speaker Pelosi’s visit here in Italy is certainly significant for our country. We look at Obama’s America as a traditional and new ally at the same time. We wish the new President the best of luck in the fulfillment of his goals, especially in this period of deep economic recession. I consider his delegate Pelosi a sort of Ambassador of Friendship."

 

Indeed the speech “Strong Allies for a Secure Future” that Mrs. Pelosi gave at Montecitorio was focused on the strong, special relationship between Italy and the US: “The United States of America find in Italy their best ally within NATO. On Saturday I visited the Aviano Air Base [2] and there I saw the tangible expression of this cooperation (..). I would also like to thank Italian troops for their incredible work in Afghanistan on behalf of President Obama, who hopes that this will be a long-lasting cooperation. However, there is no way that he will establish a policy that then imposes upon others obligations for which they have no consultation.  He will be a change also in this regard.”